"Emotional Support" Dog on Delta Flight Mauls Stranger Next to It

[DizBelle]

It may not be an ADA issue per se, but under ADA guidelines it's acceptable to ask what a service animal is trained to do. Delta's published policies state that they may ask for a letter from a licensed professional stating that there is a mental health diagnosis where an emotional support animal may be helpful. Any service dog can be immediately forced off if it doesn't behave properly.

Kind of hard to do at 35,000 feet....

I suppose you could give the dog a parachute.

 

[cabanafrau]

We have the dogs in outside spaces at restaurants in NYC and honestly haven't come across an ill behaved dog yet. We take our pup out and choose the seat the furthest away from anyone else. She just sits there with us. Doesn't bother anyone else or make any noise. Haven't brought the younger one out yet because I don't think he'd behave as well.

I'm happy to accept that your dog is pleasant and you are mindful about other diners. I won't be nasty to you or your pup and I may even comment if I find your dog particularly beautiful or well behaved. I still don't care to dine with your dog present, simply because of the inevitability that many other dog owners and their pets will not be as pleasant. Not to mention many breeds shed significantly and it will be no problem for dog hair to be blowing about in the breeze.

 

[bcla]

Kind of hard to do at 35,000 feet....

I suppose you could give the dog a parachute.

In this case they were still on the ground. Very often an animal will act up on the ground.

I'm not sure what could be done in the air. I suppose they could get some sort of temporary muzzle like the cable-tie like restraints used on unruly passengers.

 

[Hikergirl]

We have the dogs in outside spaces at restaurants in NYC and honestly haven't come across an ill behaved dog yet. We take our pup out and choose the seat the furthest away from anyone else. She just sits there with us. Doesn't bother anyone else or make any noise. Haven't brought the younger one out yet because I don't think he'd behave as well.

Unfortunately not all dog owners feel the same. They are the people I don't want bringing their dog onto the patio where I'm eating.

 

[Magpie]

Hang onto your hat, because I just saw something recently about someone in the MI legislature sponsoring a bill to allow dogs on restaurant patios if the patio is not accessed by taking the dog through the restaurant first. Notably, the law up until now has required patios to be inaccessible without coming through the restaurant because of alcohol sales laws.

I like dogs. I've owned dogs. I like eating on patios. I do not want to eat with dogs on restaurant patios, no matter how pleasant the dogs are.

It's not really that shocking.

Dogs are allowed on the TTC (subway) in Toronto. I've never had a problem with one.

And even though dogs aren't allowed on fenced restaurant patios, in my neck of the woods, you can tie them to the railing next to your table, as long as they're technically off the patio itself. And they ARE allowed on open coffee shop "patios" (ie, that small collection of tables by the sidwalk). We've taken our dog out to breakfast with us, with no issues. Most places put out bowls of ice water for dogs in the summer, in order to encourage dog owners to stop by.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm happy to accept that your dog is pleasant and you are mindful about other diners. I won't be nasty to you or your pup and I may even comment if I find your dog particularly beautiful or well behaved. I still don't care to dine with your dog present, simply because of the inevitability that many other dog owners and their pets will not be as pleasant. Not to mention many breeds shed significantly and it will be no problem for dog hair to be blowing about in the breeze.

I do think where I live it is a little different then other areas. In a metropolitan area where everyone walks dogs, people, noise, dirty, construction, etc is all going to be there in outside seating no matter if they are allowed to stop and enjoy or not. That was the big argument when the ordinance was passed. Dogs are already walking by these outside areas anyways because they take up the normal city side walk to begin with. Also some of they are actually registered city parks where the restaurants that share the space just so happen to serve that area so it was just a matter of time before all sidewalk seating started allowing dogs.

 

[MamaBelle4]

I love my dog. She is a golden retriever. (Actually gething ready to take her to the vet as she's injured her foot and won't stand )

She is the calmest, sweetest dog. Doesn't bark, doesn't growl, cowers when confronted with an aggressive dog (my mom's dogs had issues with her at first).

When I go somewhere, I find a relative to take care of her. She would be the poster perfect animal to travel with, but what kind of sense of entitlement would I have to have to think the rules shouldn't apply to me just because I have a great dog or just because I want her with me? Doesn't every pet owner think the same thing?

 

[bcla]

It's not really that shocking.

Dogs are allowed on the TTC (subway) in Toronto. I've never had a problem with one.

That didn't sound right, so I looked it up. Their info says that leashed dogs are allowed on weekends and off-peak hours. I suppose during commute times it might be a little bit too crowded.

 

[cabanafrau]

It's not really that shocking.

Dogs are allowed on the TTC (subway) in Toronto. I've never had a problem with one.

And even though dogs aren't allowed on fenced restaurant patios, in my neck of the woods, you can tie them to the railing next to your table, as long as they're technically off the patio itself. And they ARE allowed on open coffee shop "patios" (ie, that small collection of tables by the sidwalk). We've taken our dog out to breakfast with us, with no issues. Most places put out bowls of ice water for dogs in the summer, in order to encourage dog owners to stop by.

I'm quite familiar with the concept, but thanks for the attempt at enlightenment. I addressed my comments to another poster from Michigan, which is where I also live, hence my reference of the legislation and regulations here specifically.

 

[cabanafrau]

I love my dog. She is a golden retriever. (Actually gething ready to take her to the vet as she's injured her foot and won't stand )

She is the calmest, sweetest dog. Doesn't bark, doesn't growl, cowers when confronted with an aggressive dog (my mom's dogs had issues with her at first).

When I go somewhere, I find a relative to take care of her. She would be the poster perfect animal to travel with, but what kind of sense of entitlement would I have to have to think the rules shouldn't apply to me just because I have a great dog or just because I want her with me? Doesn't every pet owner think the same thing?

We had a golden. He was absolutely delightful and I mourn him 15 years later. There would have been no getting through his head that ALL of the patrons of the restaurant weren't there to be his friends and pay him attention. He simply could have never settled down with so many new friends to greet, smell, be petted by and fussed over. He was a well behaved dog and truly a pleasure to be around. I cannot imagine the level of training it would have taken to have him shut down that portion of his personality to become a public dining companion.

Hope your dog's foot ailment is easily remedied.

 

[tzolkin]

I cannot understand why ESAs are allowed on planes. They have zero training and are not allowed any other special access, so why allow them in a confined stressful place like an airplane?

If the passenger has a serious issue, I would think they could get a psychiatric service animal (trained and known to be reliable in various situations).

Hang onto your hat, because I just saw something recently about someone in the MI legislature sponsoring a bill to allow dogs on restaurant patios if the patio is not accessed by taking the dog through the restaurant first. Notably, the law up until now has required patios to be inaccessible without coming through the restaurant because of alcohol sales laws.

I like dogs. I've owned dogs. I like eating on patios. I do not want to eat with dogs on restaurant patios, no matter how pleasant the dogs are.

I have never been to a restaurant patio that did not allow dogs, so I'm actually more shocked that this topic is just now coming up in MI. Most pubs and breweries (that don't cook food) allow dogs inside as well.

We go somewhere with our greyhound at least once a week. It has been valuable for his therapy dog training and honestly never entered my mind that it would bother people. The places all have water bowls and are very welcoming.

 

[moon]

Hang onto your hat, because I just saw something recently about someone in the MI legislature sponsoring a bill to allow dogs on restaurant patios if the patio is not accessed by taking the dog through the restaurant first. Notably, the law up until now has required patios to be inaccessible without coming through the restaurant because of alcohol sales laws.

I like dogs. I've owned dogs. I like eating on patios. I do not want to eat with dogs on restaurant patios, no matter how pleasant the dogs are.

Hang onto your hat, because I just saw something recently about someone in the MI legislature sponsoring a bill to allow dogs on restaurant patios if the patio is not accessed by taking the dog through the restaurant first. Notably, the law up until now has required patios to be inaccessible without coming through the restaurant because of alcohol sales laws.

I like dogs. I've owned dogs. I like eating on patios. I do not want to eat with dogs on restaurant patios, no matter how pleasant the dogs are.

Here in South FL, dogs in patios are everywhere, and it has been that way for years. In fact, dogs seem to be allowed almost everywhere. Outdoor ,malls, stores. In my experience, these dogs are well behaved, and have ever bothered me.

 

[sam_gordon]

IMO, the owner definitely gets sued. Delta might get sued IF it can be shown Delta didn't follow whatever policy is required in order for an animal to be out of a cage.

 

[Mickeynutty]

I know some of these "bad apples." A woman I know told me her daughter was able to have a dog in student housing by declaring the dog was a support animal. The woman said it totally was a loop hole to be able to have the dog in "no pet" student housing. I know another family that was displaced by a hurricane last fall. They had to go stay at a hotel. They found one that would take their dog but found a cheaper one that was pet free. So, they claimed the dog was a support animal and the cheaper hotel could not deny their bringing the dog.

In both cases the people telling the story freely admitted that they had cheated the system and were proud of it. PLEASE change the law!

 

[mom2rtk]

Who do you sue?

I think this is an "all of the above" sort of an occasion.

 

[mom2rtk]

How will that person ever know for sure the dog didn't have rabies? Do they just have to start the vaccines to be sure?

 

[bcla]

How will that person ever know for sure the dog didn't have rabies? Do they just have to start the vaccines to be sure?

As far as I know, all dogs are required to be vaccinated to be licensed. It's pretty easy to check a dog for it's license tag. The dog would have likely been impounded if it didn't have evidence of licensing.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Hope your dog's foot ailment is easily remedied

My poor puppers has lyme disease. She's got some good antibiotics in her and some pain med.

 

[Magpie]

I'm quite familiar with the concept, but thanks for the attempt at enlightenment. I addressed my comments to another poster from Michigan, which is where I also live, hence my reference of the legislation and regulations here specifically.

My mistake! Since your hat was flying off and all, I figured you were under the impression that dogs on patios was some kind of shocking concept.

 

[Magpie]

That didn't sound right, so I looked it up. Their info says that leashed dogs are allowed on weekends and off-peak hours. I suppose during commute times it might be a little bit too crowded.

Yep, the poor things would stepped on during rush hour.

They're allowed at all other times, however.

And, of course, there are no restrictions on service animals. Presumably, they're trained to deal with crowds.